Improvement in clamping devices for sash-cords



` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. RAND, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

- IMPROVEMENT IN CLAMPING-DEVIC-ES FOR SASH-CORDS.

To all whom fit may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES R. RAND, of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuqueand State of Iowa, have invented certain Improvements in Devices forBalanced Sash, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention consists in an improved clamping device for holding andadjusting cords of window-sash, as hereinafter explained.

Figure l is a front elevation of a window having my improvements appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line a' of Fig.l; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views ofthe devices detached and shown morein detail.

Various plans have been devised for dispensing with the weightsordinarily used for balancing the sash of windows, and among others isthat of balancing one sash by the weight of the other, the two beingconnected by a cord passing over a pulley at the top. As usuallyarranged, neither sash can be raised or lowered independent of theother, and the cords and xtures are generally so applied as to requiremore or less of the frame or sash to be cut away or altered in order tohave the sash operate.

My invention has for its special object the remedying of thesedifficulties by the construction of devices that can be applied to anyordinary window without alteration of the frame or sash, and which, atthe same time, are so simple that they can be readily applied by anyordinary person, and will also permit of the lower sash being' raisedwithout lowering the upper, or the upper one loweredwithout raising thelower one.

The sash are suspended by cords which pass over pulleys secured in theupper corners of the frame and have one end attached to the upper sash,while the other end of the cord is attached to the lower sash by meansof the clamp, as represented in the drawing, each sash being thusbalanced by the other, thereby dispensing with the Weights ordinarilyused. The clamp, which is shown in front elevation in Fig. 4 and inlongitudinal section in Fig. 3, consists of a metal ame, D, cast with aprojection, (l, on one side, as shown in Fig. 4, to form a stop, overwhich a catch, E, engages to fasten the sash down, the catch E beingpivoted to the side of the windowframe in an inclined position, as shownin Fig. 2, With its heavier end uppermost and outward,

whereby it is caused to lock over the stop d automatically as the latteris brought down past its lower point. Vithin this frame D I mount apulley, a, as represented in Fig. 3, and below this pulley I pivot acam, e, which has its face grooved and so set as to clasp the cord F,when inserted, firmly between it and the lower edge of the pulley a, asshown in Figs. 3 and 4. A small transverse shoulder or ledge, fi, ismade across the inner lower portion of the frame D, between which andthe under side of the cam e, a rubber spring, h, is inserted, to pressthe cam up and keep it in contact with the cord. The journal o of thiscam extends out through one side of the frame l), where it is bent atright angles to form a handle, I), by which to operate or release thecam from its hold on the cord. This clamp I attach to the front of thelower sash at any desired height, one on each side, as shown in Fig. l.I then attach one end of a cord permanently to the inner face of theupper sash, and pass it over the pulley in the corner above, and passits tree end through the clamp on the lower sash,

the cord being passed between the pulley a and the cam e, as representedin Figs; l, 3, and 4, there being a similar cord applied at each side ofthe window, as shown in Fig. 1. The cords F are permitted to extend somedistance below the clamps, and have tassels or knobs c attached to theirlower ends to prevent their being drawn through the clamp and becomingaccidentally released.

When thus arranged it will be seen that the sash balance each other, andthat by raising the lower one the upper one is lowered. It will also beseen that, by releasing the cams e from the cords, the upper sash may belowered to any desired extent without raising the lower one, and that,by thus adjusting the cords, the lower sash can be raised a shortdistance and the upper one lowered to a much greater extent at the sametime. When the lower sash is down it is held securely in place by thecatches E engaging over the stops d, which prevent the upper sash alsofrom being pulled down. When thus locked, if

it be desired to close the upper sash entirely it is only necessary totake hold of the lower end ofthe cords and pull them down until theupper sash is raised to its position, when the cams e lock the cordsfast and thus secure both upper and lower sash in their proper relativeposition.

The entire apparatus is extremely simple, cani E having the springandthumb-piece erlecheap7 and efficient, and, while enabling;l the ver barranged t0 operate the saine, substantialA sash t0 be balanced each bythe other, also per- 1y as set forth. mits any desired adjustment of oneto the other.

Havingthns fully described my invention, what I c1 aim is- The clamp,consisting of the frame D having the pnlley o arranged in its upperpart7 with the CHARLES R. RAND.

Witnesses W. C. DODGE, HARRY KING.

